Protesters gathered at Cy’s Big Top Saturday during Veishea after discovering a military student group demonstrating gun safety to children.

Semper Fidelis, a professional society for students involved with the U.S. Marine Corps, was showing children military gear, weapons and camouflaged face painting. Members of Time For Peace, a student activist group, began protesting at the site. Matt Denner, a member of the group, said he was not happy with what he saw.

“[Group members] discovered land mines, rocket launchers and machine guns which were being played with by children,” said Denner, sophomore in political science.

“The machine guns were handed to the kids so they could learn about gun safety. But that is such an extremely powerful and fatal weapon used for the purpose of killing other humans.”

When word spread to other Time for Peace members about the Semper Fidelis display, they organized a protest to “let the Marines know that was very inappropriate,” Denner said.

Semper Fidelis President Troy Cronbaugh said his group had permission from the Veishea committee to demonstrate gear and equipment used by military personnel, including demilitarized and fake weapons.

“This is the same display we have had in the past,” said Cronbaugh, sophomore in agricultural studies.

Cronbaugh said Semper Fidelis’ display was awarded best overall Cy’s Big Top display at last year’s Veishea.

Dana Morgan, Veishea Village co-chairwoman, said Semper Fidelis had filled out the necessary paperwork to have a display at Cy’s Big Top.

“We did not know what certain things would be there,” said Morgan, senior in agricultural studies.

“It was a very general deal.”

The only complaint about the display was from the Time for Peace group,Morgan said. “There were no complaints from parents or children.”

Denner said when Time For Peace complained to the Veishea organizers, their complaints were ignored.

“We were hoping someone with Veishea would request that Marines move their display to another location, but our request was basically ignored,” Denner said. A Veishea organizer “told us that the Marines had paid to have their display there and had every right to be there.”

Cronbaugh, sophomore in agricultural studies, said the Semper Fidelis group had went through the proper procedures with the Veishea committee.

“The only concern is that we rented that space to advocate our society and what our members are doing,” Cronbaugh said. “But they received the same publicity, minus the fees.”

Denner said he hopes next year’s Veishea organizers move the military demonstration to a more appropriate place, not Cy’s Big Top.

“This isn’t something that you have to be a pacifist to oppose. This is conditioning children to perform murder. After Columbine and acts committed by children, I think it is obvious that children shouldn’t be toying [with] weapons,” Denner said.

“We hope next year they wouldn’t make the same mistake.”